[Follow-up in patients with chronic obstructive lung diseases with special reference to the pressure behavior in the...

The study demonstrates the results of 203 patients with COLD in a follow-up of 4-6 years. The investigations include the clinical state, lung function tests, blood gas analyses and measurements of pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP). One hundred and six of these 203 patients were investigated 3 times within 4-6 years. Clinical state, oxygen partial pressure and airways' resistance showed the best correlation with the PAP at rest and under exercise. In 54 patients (= 51%) the pulmonary arterial pressure increased up to a pulmonary hypertension. In 37 patients (= 35%) it decreased, out of them in 13 to normal values. Only in 15 patients (= 14%) the PAP did not change. We conclude, that a single measurement of the pulmonary arterial pressure can only be a marker of the general prognosis in COLD, but not of the individual prognosis. So we need further follow-up studies for the correct assessment of the individual prognosis dependent on the clinical state in each case.